Pamela Mitchell earned herself widespread fame when she was the “voice” of the deaf and hard of hearing community during Hurricane Sandy. Standing alongside Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Mitchell made a name for herself using her sign language craft.
However, when she is not appearing on television signing in front of millions of people, she’s working as a job coach at the Lexington Vocational Services Center at the Lexington School for the Deaf in Queens. Mitchell plays a key roll in helping deaf citizens find and maintain a job.
Mitchell is also a certified American Sign Language interpreter and works as a freelance interpreter at events across the city, ranging from government to medical, legal and civic venues. One of her passions is theatrical interpreting.
Born in the South Bronx and currently living in Queens, Mitchell said that unlike many interpreters, she did not grow up with deaf family members and had little connection with the deaf and hard of hearing community. She was turned onto signing with the help of a friend.
“I have always loved languages,” Mitchell said. “I was in my mid-30s and let go from a corporate job. When I was trying to find employment, a friend of mine called me and asked me to take a sign language course with her. She offered to pay for my first class and after that, I was hooked.”
Her first job using her craft was at LaGuardia Community College working with a program for deaf adults. Starting at the school as an administrative assistant, Mitchell was able to learn not only perfect signing, but also about issues in the deaf and hard of hearing community.
She later became nationally certified with the Registry for Interpreters for the Deaf. She is one of the few Black interpreters who are nationally certified.
In 2012, she became a recognizable face for deaf New Yorkers when she stood next to Bloomberg during his numerous press conferences warning and giving residents updates about Hurricane Sandy. Mitchell was one of two interpreters who signed over the course of several days. She got the gig through an agency the city uses.
“It’s always great to interpret for the mayor. Everyone is aware of who I am now because of Hurricane Sandy, and what I am proud of is that I am one of the few Black interpreters standing next to a non-Black mayor. But I was raised not to brag and you just do what you are suppose to do,” Mitchell said.
In the community, she continues her work using sign language to help out. She sometimes volunteers her services when needed to organizations that cannot afford an interpreter. Mitchell also keeps up her craft of signing by constantly studying to be up-to-date on the changing language.
Along with her mother, who Mitchell says has given her undying support, she credits Harlem Independent Living Center Executive Director Christina Curry, who is deaf and an advocate for the deaf community.
Mitchell is in the process now of completing her degree in corporate communications with a minor in psychology at Baruch College and hopes to earn a master’s degree.